Louis Brandeis 230 (Trial Proof) by Andy Warhol is part of his Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century series, created in 1980. Louis Brandeis was an American lawyer and the first Jew appointed to the role of Supreme Court Justice in 1916. Brandeis had graduated from Harvard Law School and settled in Boston. He made a name for himself by championing socially progressive issues and became known as “the people’s attorney.” His writings on individual rights of privacy was a new concept and has had lasting impacts on American society. Brandeis later became involved in the Zionist movement. His legacy lives on both through the profound impact he had on the United States Supreme Court, as well as Brandeis University, which was named for the justice and established in 1948.
In this Trial Proof, Warhol depicts Brandeis in a striking palette of teal, salmon pink, mustard yellow, and cerulean blue, with vibrant highlights that frame his face and collar. Warhol outlines Brandeis’s features in bold, contrasting strokes of red and blue, while layered color fields distort and emphasize different aspects of his expression. The result is both dignified and abstracted, characteristic of Warhol’s style. As a Trial Proof, this particular print represents one of the unique color combinations Warhol considered while selecting the final edition. Each is one-of-a-kind, offering a glimpse into Warhol’s artistic process and visual experimentation.
Louis Brandeis 230 by Andy Warhol as Part of His Larger Body of Work
Louis Brandeis 230 by Andy Warhol is a part of his Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century series. Brandeis’ championing of privacy is an interesting contrast to Warhol’s fascination in pop culture and celebrities. However, in this portfolio he portrayed thought leaders in the same visual language he used for Hollywood stars. In doing so, he elevated figures of moral and civic importance, like Brandeis, into his pantheon of cultural icons.
Photo Credit: Andy Warhol with some of his works on 15 December 1980 (Getty Images/Susan Greenwood/Liaison Agency).
